Public Hearing Continued On Rocky Hill Project

Public Access, Flood Protection Focus Of Discussion

July 11, 2013|By DAVID DRURY, Special to the Courant, The Hartford Courant

ROCKY HILL – Questions over public access and flood protection dominated discussion during resumption of the public hearing on an application by Riverfront Future Partners for a wetlands permit for its Connecticut River waterfront project.

The partnership, headed by Lenard Thylan of New York City, is looking to build five free-standing buildings, with 78 residential condominiums, offices and shops, a small public park and a pedestrian walkway overlooking the river.

The 10-acre project, known as River's Edge, would clean up and redevelop the long-blighted Connecticut foundry site. A portion of the project is located within the mapped 100-year flood plain, and would impact an upland drainage area.

A hearing on Riverfront Future's application, opened in June by the open space and conservation commission, resumed Wednesday evening. After nearly three hours, it was recessed to the agency's next regular meeting in August.

Michael F. Romano, attorney for the developer, assured commissioners that all of the project buildings conform to federal, state and local regulations governing flood plain construction. Building floors are at least 12 feet above the 27.4 feet floodplain elevation, and parking areas beneath the buildings are at 29.4 feet, he said.

Because of concerns expressed by the commission last month, project engineer James Cassidy of Hallisey, Pearson & Cassidy Engineering Associates Inc. said one building, previously located within the uplands boundary, was reconfigured and is now 80 percent outside the area.

A proposal to lower the height of an existing berm at the south end of the property will expand the floodplain and allow for greater flood storage capacity, Romano said. The move was endorsed by town engineering consultants, Milone & MacBroom of Cheshire, which completed a review of the project. "We agree that this is a positive plan for the site,'' the consultants concluded in a letter dated July 10.

Romano and former mayor Anthony LaRosa told commissioners that discussions over whether the town would ultimately take ownership of the small park, named in honor of former state representative Richard Tulisano, are ongoing.

Thylan remains "ambivalent" about the change, Romano said.

Should the ownership transfer, LaRosa said the town council would likely need to amend the development agreement it negotiated in October 2011 with Riverfront Future while he was mayor.

The developer intends to retain ownership of the pedestrian walkway, which would be accessible to the public only during daylight hours, Romano said.

Another unresolved question regards public access to three concrete piers located in the river at the site. At some future point, an observational deck or boat slips could be considered, but in the short term the owner is looking to remove the rusting steel girders which allow access to the piers from shore, removing a safety hazard and potential liability, Romano said.

In addition to the wetlands application, the planning and zoning commission is holding a public hearing on the developer's request for a special use permit and site plan approval.